National Weather Service confirms two local tornadoes

Tuesday

Feb 26, 2013 at 5:13 PMFeb 27, 2013 at 8:53 AM

The tornadoes caused damage this week in Mathews and Houma.

Nikki BuskeyStaff Writer

The National Weather Service has confirmed that two weak tornadoes touched down in Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes Sunday night and Monday, resulting in minor damage but no injuries. A tornado touched down in Mathews about 8:30 p.m. Sunday near U.S. 90 and La. 308.About 25 yards wide with maximum winds of about 85 mph, it traveled northeast about two miles, causing minor damage to canopies and roofs on homes, the agency reported. The tornado also damaged fencing at Central Lafourche High, downed power poles along U.S. 90 and ripped the air-conditioning unit out of a small building.A second tornado touched down a little after 4:30 p.m. Monday near Industrial Avenue in Houma. That 35-yard-wide tornado traveled about a mile along Industrial Boulevard with maximum winds of 95 mph.The winds blew down utility poles and damaged canopies at the Shell station and the Cash Magic service station off Grand Caillou Road. A car was overturned on Main Port Road, and Leonard J. Chabert Medical Center reported minor damage. The doors to the emergency room were blown out, the switch that controls generator power was damaged, and the boilers and chillers that supply steam to sterilize medical equipment was damaged. In addition, several hospital windows were blown out, and cars in the parking lot received damage.